The Russellville City Council attempted to shed some light as well as cool down its computer servers during Thursday's regular meeting at City Hall.

Aldermen quickly approved a $10,000 expenditure to fund a computer server replacement and upgrade after learning the city's servers were getting pretty hot under the collar, according to Police Chief James Bacon and Information Technology Director Ricky Fuller.

Bacon and Fuller told council members the computer servers, located in a special room at Russellville Police Department, have become critically hot due to recent air conditioning problems. In addition to the server replacement and upgrade, aldermen followed the recommendation of Fuller and Bacon by adding an alarm system in the room to notify anyone when the servers were getting too warm.

City Corp. budget

The city's water utility presented its 2006-07 capital and operations and maintenance budgets to the council and public.

General Manager Craig Noble told aldermen the budget, approved by the City Corp. Board of Directors last month, was given to board members for review in May during the utility's annual meeting at Huckleberry Creek Reservoir.

According to Noble, City Corp. has kept its promise to voters and rate payers of the city of Russellville referring to projects such as the Huckleberry Creek Reservoir, 16th Street joining South Arkansas Avenue and additional 16th Street construction; East Fourth Street rehabilitation; and third equalization basin currently under construction.

Noble said some budget numbers had to be corrected:

Total projected revenue for water during the next fiscal year -- which began July 1 and ends June 30, 2007 -- is $5,192,212. Funds reserved for capital projects total $2,656,779, while the operation and maintenance budget totals $2,535,433.

Total projected revenue for sewer is $2,158,490, with $2,085,036 reserved for capital projects and $73,454 for operation and maintenance.

Total combined projected revenue is $7,350,702. Funds reserved for capital projects total $4,620,469, while operation and maintenance budget is $2,730,233.

Noble's PowerPoint presentation also included prioritization of the the utility's $135 million water and wastewater master plan, approved by board members in 2003.

Mayor Raye Turner had a couple of questions for Noble. She inquired about the water O&M budget, which showed revenue down 2.76 percent from 2005-06, but the O&M budget was 11.24 percent more than 2005-06. Noble said staffing cuts have been made, overtime and an order was entered into with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), at a cost of $735,000, to maintain minimum staffing levels.

Turner then asked about about the 25 percent drop on wholesale water sales. Noble explained there is only one wholesale customer, the Tri County Regional Water Distribution District, and it was "an attempt to not jeopardize the financial integrity of the utility with its current rate" with Tri County.

The utilities are involved in litigation and have been working for several months towards a resolution out of the courtroom before winding up in court.

In other business Thursday night, the council:

Requested that Dan Hudson, owner of The Electric Moo on East Main Street, wait until a district court date is over before he addresses the council about the items available in his business. The Electric Moo and Gothic Gateway were both cited by Russellville police for allegedly violating the city's ordinance on sexually-oriented businesses.

Reviewed parking lot diagrams drawn up by Public Works. Director Morgan Barrett said one design contained 51 parking spaces, while 58 were in the other. Aldermen decided to seek cost evaluations for landscaping, and will bring it back next month.

Heard from Treasurer Tori Apple that year-to-date revenues were 3.8 percent above projections, while expenditures were 2.3 percent below year-to-date projections. She added bids were sought from area banks, and the city decided to stay with First Arkansas Valley Bank.

Approved a suggestion from Alderman Ronnie Tripp to move funds into the Capital Assets Fund to bring the account to an even $400,000.

Approved Bacon to fill a vacancy at the police department (administrative assistant).

Tabled action on ordinances amending the land and subdivision code regulating metal buildings in commercial and residential districts and property until they take a field trip at 10 a.m. Aug. 17. Turner suggested any residents who wish to have land or properties viewed by the council to contact City Hall.

Approved a resolution to apply for historical registry status for Oakland Cemetery. Lee Wilson, newly-elected chairperson of the Oakland Cemetery Committee, and family members thanked the council for their efforts.

Approved appropriations and line-item transfers of $6,000 to fund the city's portion of Prairie Creek Street and approaches to East B Street; $35,000 to fund the city's portion of West Main Place and 14th Street-Inglewood construction; and $1,600 to fund police pension board legal research.